2024 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

Coach tried for last 50 seconds Arnas out and Sirvydis + Grigonis together and then obviuos question who is guarding best opponents perimeter player in that lineup ?

Sirvydis playing defence on perimeter with straight legs,Grigonis with bad back cant run after fast guards at this stage of his career.


Butkevicius will play alot again like in 2022. Because he is SF player that can defend guards and alow Grigonis/Sirvydis hide on opponents SF in defence.

This is the biggest problem which I think Maksvytis failed to realize when he didn't invite D. Giedraitis in the first place. He doesn't understand that NT can get into REAL trouble if PR guards or the same Italian Mannion will get hot. Lekavicius lost a stint of athleticism and quickness, Jokubaitis is not even in shape ATM. We'll have to play disciplined and solid offense to win qualification. That probably will come. I'm not worried that shots not dropping now. They will drop in after 2 weeks or so. But I want more quality decisions, less turnovers and for that Jokubaitis should tune up.

[Shawshank]

Problem is that our 2 most tallented offensive players sucks in defence and cant play together thats the problem

Imagine is Sirvydis was easily beaten by 34 old veteran,what nba good guards or elite fiba guard will do in same situation in endings ?



Im worried about Jokubaitis. All season long he was playing 10minutes by end of season 5minutes or DNP.

Its difficult to make super fast switch to be 30minutes player. His body for 6 months was working on tottaly diffrent scheduale.

Is not that simple to play 30min .His body need couple weeks with 30min games to get used to that.


Jokubaitis will be better in Olympics sure.But for qualification tournament in 7 days ? im worred will he get in needed 30min player shape in time.

Clearly Lukas is in way better shape,how he runs. But we cant play Lukas alot with training chair level defence.

[Straight forward]

Sirvydis has to guard threes not twos.

[Shawshank]

This in not clubs and NT have holes and both Grigonis and Sirvydis must go outside comfort zone and defend SG when Arnas will be on bench

If those 2 are seriuos about winning,not only collecting offensive stats.


This is not lkl one sided level league where SIrvydis can play Sg in offence and in defence rest on SF.


This is fiba where in best NT euroleague and nba two way players play.

[Straight forward]

Butkevicius is no-where close of his 2022 self. And even that Arnas was stuggling against true guards and fouled out against Brown. Butkevicius is not in position to stop any guard ATM. Defense will be pretty bad, that's obvious. But offense can be very good. Specially in Olympics when Sabonis will feel other players better and others will understand Sabonis better. Plus, as you said, the same Jokubaitis needs more playing time and get in shape. If we will qualify, I think the offense in Olympics will be very nice. On a good day, we can stay more or less with Serbia, but even if we would lose against both USA and Serbia (which most likely happens), we still can qualify to 4finals and maybe there to get an opponent against which we would have better chance.

[Hepcat]

This is the biggest problem which I think Maksvytis failed to realize when he didn't invite D. Giedraitis in the first place.

Uggghhhh. Do you watch these games with both an open mind and one that's fully engaged? If so why do you keep replaying the same tape regardless of what plays out on the court?

Consider. Slovenia shot just 22/67 from the floor and scored only 70 points today. That's not much offence.

The problem was that Lithuania couldn't shoot either and scored an even more pathetic 68. Only four of Lithuania's players scored over six points. And NBA superstar Domantas Sabonis who should be leading the charge scored a pitiful 9 points on 4/9 shooting in just over twenty minutes! It was the offence that was the problem today.

But rather than recognizing the spade as a spade, you replay the same broken record and criticize Coach Maksvytis for not inviting your little darling Dovydas Giedraitis who's naught but a defensive specialist. Meanwhile Giedraitis' offensive capabilities have been even more limited lately because he's hurting. He shot only 2/17 from three point range in nine LKL playoff games. How would Giedraitis have helped today with the offence which was Lithuania's problem?

[Shawshank]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRnmxBM4oTQ&t=325s

Ok maybe i written off Italy too early after Fontecchio was out.

Brown didnt play for Spain,but still Italy looks like dangerous team that plays small ball for 40minutes.


vs them Dmo 7minutes,Sabonis 33min

and our PF should be Sedekerskis,Ulanovas,Kuzminskas and forget ideas playing big ball for that game.We saw what happend to 2021 Serbia who didnt adjusted vs Italy


On paper Italy looks very weak inside Hernangomez had 23pts.

This is Sabonis game were he must dominate and have first fiba game with 20+pts performance ever vs Italians and put their frontcourt in faul trouble.

[Straight forward]

Great video showing how much Sabonis can impact the team. When it comes to offense, his impact can be massive. Like complete game changer. When he is play making with the ball in his hands the paint is completely open, and you can get easy points. When he roles he attracts double teams and shooters as Grigonis and Sirvydis in the corners are wide open. When he gets the ball nearer the basket he can outmuscle and destroy anyone in the world. I mean he can move even Jokic and Embiid, no problem. I liked how he moved actually athletic and strong Nebo. Domas at another level. But, as I said, the key is chemistry and that needs time. This would work only in Olympics mainly. The offense might be really good.

Couple of problems I see. Grigonis shot only 33,5% from the field in 2 games. This number will increase, but it's not gonna be easy for him to be that guy with the ball like it's nothing. I don't see it. He has to stick to merely shooting more. So far he showed tunnel vision, missed Sabonis and others several times and he dished only 1 assist while playing with the ball a lot. This version of Marius sucks and hopefully he will tune up.

Lekavicius also dished only 2 assists in 2 games. So only 1 assist per 20 minutes or so per game. Nothing surprising, but it shows there's little creativity comes from both Grigonis and Lekavicius.

Good news, Sirvydis looks good with the ball, specially finding others, Three assists per game. And the feeling is that his vision is really sharp, and passes rather effortless and quick. Sirvydis is not some kind of monster of creation, but still good piece.

Ulanovas dished 5 assists in first game and 3 assists in second. His creation is very important. Sabonis, Jokubaitis, Ulanovas, Sirvydis are the most creative players on this roster. This should be emphasized. And off course it's mainly about Sabonis and Jokubaitis. Grigonis shouldn't overdo with the ball. He doesn't have burst to beat opponents or amazing passing instincts. He's a good passer and will show it later, but he shouldn't ball hog and should look for off ball movement more. Specially annoying is unwillingness to cut.

Basically I think this team can move the ball impressively when the chemistry will be reached. And we could be so much better if our guards knew how to cut more. From guards, probably only Sirvydis is dominant cutter. Butkevicius, Ulanovas, Kuzminskas, Sedekerskis (even good) as forwards are decent cutters, but Jokubaitis and specially Lekavicius, Grigonis struggle with it and that limits our offense a bit. Playing with Domas it's extremely important to know how to cut and to do it willingly. I already can see that if Sabonis will have opportunity to have around him players as Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Rubstavicius, Buzelis, Sirvydis in some 2028, it will be surreal offense. It's easy to see that most current guards doesn't understand this basketball and doesn't have good insticts. We are known for drive and kick. But not give and go or grab a lot of points off the cuts. That's more American school.

I figured that actually Radzevicius could be good fit for Sabonis. I see that Butkevicius is off shape and Dimsa is trash. I think likely Radzevicius would be better. Tremendous player off ball, loves to cut, actually dominant cutter who is hard to keep away from the boards and he is more reliable shooter than Butkevicius. I hope Arnas will tune up. but I feel like Radzevicius a bit overlooked.

Out next edition of talent is very unusual. Guys like Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Buzelis are not only individually strong with the ball, but they are dominant off ball players as well. That's rare. This edition will be crucial and game changer for the whole LTU basketball.

Now I love Sirvydis, Jokubaitis fits to Sabonis most cause they seem to get that give and go idea and they know how to receive the ball while cutting. Grigonis can shoot, but that's mainly all. Just handoffs and kickouts.. Grigonis doesn't feel Sabonis, missing him or failing to cut inside. Looking forward how this chemistry will establish. I think with time Domas and shaped Jokubaitis might be great creation for others and in the future we might have all pieces needed around Sabonis. If Domas will be one of those guys who remain elite till 35, our offense will be more than flawless. But even in post Sabonis era, we'll have more than enough offense.

Way to organize offense with current teams are tons, but some players have to get in shape and time is needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTl9TyI0bbM&ab_channel=Augustas%C5%A0uliauskas

[Straight forward]

\One thing is also obvious. It will be interesting to see how much opponents will be risking on Jokubaitis, Butkevicius/Ulanovas, Sedekerskis three. Like in that situation when there's Jokubaitis, Butkevicius, Tubelis in the weak side and Slovenians doesn't bother to be close them and just looks how to close the moving paths to Sabonis.

So the key for Sabonis to be effective in FIBA court is to play with flexible players who can shoot. Sirvydis is perfect example. He is very strong player cutter and strong shooter. Perfect. Grigonis would be perfect also if he would be cutting more.

In 2023 Jokubaitis shot 55% from three, but was taking just 2.5 shots per game which is a little too little for PG. Compare that with Zagars who was taking 4.5 threes per game.

I would consider to start Kuzminskas at 3. Butkevicius today is a ball stopper and none elite defender with his current shape. Ulanovas is needed in the second unit if you ask me. Kuz with his shot just provides spacing for Sabas.

We'll be interesting to see how Maksvytis will handle this. He tried to start Butkevicius in the second game which was correct decision it terms of having Ule in the second line-up, but Butkevicius failed miserably and was taken out. I probably would go with Kuz and would try to outscore opponents. There's no way Butkevicius can help against Alvarado or Mannion, they would leave him without any problems.

[Shawshank]

Basketball 50% is offence, 50% defence

For dinosaur expert only offence depends from players rotations

Coaches have to have in mind both sides picturing rotations not only offence

Yeah our team won't good defensive team but it doesn't meant it can be ignored and not work hard to improve it and rotations will depend from that too

Coaches clearly thinks about defence and in last conference head coach even mentioned what was best thing in 2 game? our defence was better coaches said

[Straight forward]

100% healthy and ready Butkevicius would be a starter to me as a glue guy at 3. ATM he doesn't have the same capabilities, passport dude. He won't be changing much.

This team won't be playing good D. Just there's no objective reasons for that with such guards. D will be as good as it's objectively possible, so not good. But offensive upside is intriguing. You can fix whatever the D, but the only way for this team to win something is to play great offense. There no way were slowing down good teams with this roster. Not a single elite guard defender. Not a single elite SF defender. Maybe Sederskis alone is close to be elite defender individually, but even he doesn't have perfect team D IQ. Go figure.

Your bro Maksvytis showed enough how much he cares about D when he showed middle finger to the best perimeter defender in the country.

[Shawshank]

If you putting such lineups in your fantasies writtings here like Grigonis+Sirvydis at SG-SF our defence instantly become way worse like in last 50seconds we saw very clearly

For Butkevicius to get 20+ minutes is enough to be best team defender


You are wrong we need defence yes,but that player cant be empty in offence like D. Giedraitis playing SG position

If we putting empty offensively player so atleats coaches are doing that from SF position and let Grigonis and SIrvydis cook in offence and not cut their minutes with some one sided SG defensive player.


All those lineups Sirvydis+Grigonis or start Kuzminskas at SF in starting 5 shows you dont even look at defence and projecting team as they will play 40minutes only offence


Who is those your lineups is defending opponents elite fiba perimeter leaders ? If coaches would look only at offence like u 100% they wouldnt have cut R.Giedraitis


Coaches job is not to maximaze Sabonis or Grigonis/Sirvydis stats , mission is to get best team result and slowing down perimeter opponents leader plays big part in that.

Thats why best team defensive player Arnas will play more than 20minutes. Thats my prediction.



I support coaching staff desicion have defensive stopper from SF and let Grigonis and SIrvydis offensively cook from SG and try to hide them on SF in defence.

[Straight forward]

How is Butkevicius stopping elite FIBA perimeter players?

You get a wrong imagination on D. Giedraitis. Maybe he's injured and played LKL PO being not 100% ready, we don't know that. Zalgiris after Evans injury needed him badly so maybe he was pushed a little bit to play even with minor injuries. But you overlook the facts that D. Giedraitis can be that guy standing in the corner instead of Butkevicius. He wouldn't occupy anything for either Grigonis/Sirvydis or anyone else. He would simply be much more skilled and way better shooter than Butkevicius somewhere in the corner, making few screens and waiting for opportunity. There's various solutions to this, cause both Sirvydis/Grigonis can guard threes.

Butkeviciaus ain't no stopping anyone. He can't stay with guards, let alone 180 something midgets It won't solve anything. It just adds athleticism, defensive motor and some help defense, but it won't fix the issue that our perimeter D will be nearly non existant.

This problem will be fully solved only once players as Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Marciulionis will be ready to be competitive with NT jerseys.

Not saying that Bukevicius will be useless, off course not, but if you imagine Butkevicius presence at 3 solves our issues defensively... Good luck with that.

[Hepcat]

100% healthy and ready Butkevicius would be a starter to me as a glue guy at 3. ATM he doesn't have the same capabilities, passport dude. He won't be changing much.

The years take their toll. Arnas Butkevičius is sadly no longer the player that he was with Rytas when for example in 2020-21 he dished out 3 assists per LKL game while pulling down 5 rebounds. But those were the days though when you routinely denigrated him as both a low "IQ player" as well as a ball stopper. This you only stopped doing when he signed with Žalgiris (as if this was somehow a validation of player quality).

But speaking of ball stoppers, how is it that guard Dovydas Giedraitis dished off only a paltry 1.9 assists per game in 19:59 minutes of playing time in LKL games in the 2023-24 season?

[Shawshank]

Our coaches cut both Giedraitis one for offensive,other for defensive reasons

Dimsa was choosen as 12th player because in coaches eyes he is serviceable in defence in PG-SF positions and have experience playing some PG in eruoleague if something will happen with one of our PG.

Main defensive stopper is comming from SF and SG position will have scorer for all 40minutes in Grigonis and Sirvydis.

Thats how i see what ltu coaching staff is doing with 2024 roster.


Coaches are trying to find some balance between offence and defence in this random roster when pieces dont fit.

Will that work ? we will see in qualification.